Hornell and Bath both will be accepting big money
Michael T. Baldwin Reports
Steuben County communities are on the verge of receiving new pandemic funding for relief infrastructure. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $387 million is being delivered to 1,452 local governments across the New York State to help boost their pandemic response infrastructure. The announcement is part of the State’s ongoing preparation efforts to tackle any potential pandemic-related surges this fall and winter. This financial backing is made possible by the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides relief for smaller local governments who have shared in the public health response.
The City of Hornell this summer is set to receive another $425,000; the Village and Town of Bath should receive about $571,000; Village of Hammondsport, just shy of $32,000; the Village of Canisteo is earmarked to receive more than $109,000 but the Town of Canisteo won’t receive a dime because the press release says the town was either non-responsive or declined funds. Another town found the same result, including the Town of Bradford.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided $350 billion for eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 emergency, including $10.7 billion in relief for New York State’s local governments. While larger municipalities received their funding directly from the U.S. Treasury Department, the State is responsible for distributing allocations on a per-capita basis to non-entitled units of government (NEUs) — cities, towns and villages that did not receive a direct payment. In July and August 2021, $387.1 million was distributed to over 1,450 local governments. Municipalities have received or can expect an identical amount in a second payment, which will conclude the State’s responsibility for distribution.
